Smudges

Yuri stretched his arms over his head as he waited for the coffee to hurry up and be done and eyed the calendar on the fridge.

'The fifteenth…Sunday…at least Victor can just work as this next week is just for the public viewing…' Yuri figured before a frown fell across his lips.

'Chris…should I tell Victor about last night? Should we follow up on any of the investigations today?' Yuri knitted his brow deep in thought as he poured two cups before he headed upstairs, Makkachin trailing after. 'With everything that has happened…maybe we should just take it easy today…oh! It looks like he has music playing…hope I'm not interrupting much…'

A violin rendition Dark Eyes was playing in the background when Yuri discreetly came inside the small room. The air was musky at best, of oil and acrylic paints while the big window was left open.

'I should've put on a thicker robe this morning,' Yuri regretted as he shivered in his flannel set, closing the door behind him.

The carpeted floor of the room was covered by blue tarp while paints took over most the available space of two folding tables. In each corner, a tall lamp had been turned on alongside the fast ceiling fan with its bright light overhead while Victor appeared hard at work, daintily highlighting a sterling silver rosary with orange and ruby stones on a four by ten canvas that was already half illustrated across the surface.

Yuri stood by the door with the steaming cups, one in each hand for a couple minutes. 'He seems so focused…maybe I should set one down and leave-?'

Victor rose up all the sudden but halted. "Ah, Yuri!" He set his brush down and excitedly walked forward. "I didn't hear you come in! I was just about to get some cerulean so I'm sorry if I had startled you just now."

'Cerulean…' Yuri's mind drifted for a moment when he thought of his association for the color. 'An ocean…wonder if his eyes are-'

"Is that for me?"

Yuri slightly jolted. "Th-That's ok, um, yeah! Here."

Victor, oblivious to Yuri's faltering, continued to give a bright smile as he took the dog-printed mug from Yuri's right hand. "Thank you, I've been up since six I really needed this."

"Sure thing."

"Um, how are you holding up?"

Katsuki swallowed. "Oh, um, I'm fine, thank you. Makkachin had followed me upstairs and looked like she wanted to go for a walk soon so I can go get her exercise if you like? Get her out of the house?"

Victor tilted his head to the side. "I'd appreciate that but can you stay for a bit? I'd like some company actually."

Yuri nodded. "Of course."

Victor pecked his cheek, albeit randomly, "thank you," and leaned back upright and turned back around to head towards the table to Yuri's right. "How are you this morning?"

Yuri gingerly touched where Victor's lips were and lightly blushed. 'Forget Chris for a moment,' he weakly coached himself, but remained at the door.

"A-Ano..."

Katsuki watched Victor's shoulders sag with a sigh as he returned to fetching his desired paint color. "I get the sense that word is really loaded for you..."

"Well you did just kiss me," he timidly replied.

Victor looked over his shoulder and gave Yuri a gentle-withering look, one which spoke volumes between them both.

Yuri took small step forward. "That is to say I…I just…" he bit his bottom lip and took another step. "I just…" he looked up from the tarp and felt his chest constrict as a moment from the other night in bed flashed across his mind. "…I don't know where to even start I…" his shoulders fell in defeat.

'I mean what about all the fires and destruction?' Yuri thought. 'Do we even have time?'

Victor's smile became a little strained as Yuri talked but resigned to slowly nod. "Yes, of course…" he looked down as he fiddled with the oil paint tube in his hand, "…but…I do feel we have-" he cleared his throat and looked up, "something I'd like to treasure…especially after Friday night."

Yuri felt his cheeks warm a little as their eyes lingered for a moment, that is, before both caved-in and returned to take a sip from their mugs.

Victor swallowed and kept staring at the ceramic. "Heh, honestly, I think these are getting in the way- Y-Yuri!"

The shorter man was chugging the rest. "Ah~ Yeah, I agree."

"Wo~w," Victor deadpanned. "You turn timid to bold on the dime, don't you?"

"Not really," Yuri admitted with a raspy voice, "I just got nervous suddenly…and now my throat hurts."

Victor snorted with a smile and finished his with a couple of gulps. "Ah~ Rather impulsive those nerves are, huh? Heh, well then…what now?" He asked gently. "Where should we start?"

Yuri gripped his mug handle. "W-Well I…um…"

The impressionist titled his head. "Oh? I know that look. What is it?"

"I…man this is gonna be hard, um…" Yuri took in a long breath and exhaled. "Chris insisted I leave," he confessed.

Nikiforov held back a gasp. "Y-Yuri, I-"

Katsuki shook his head. "I'm sorry, I just can't talk about if there's even an us right now," he rapidly spoke. "He came to me in the thick of the crowd while you were busy and I just couldn't tell you right away as we had enough going on," Yuri spoke faster and faster as he felt the pressure. "He said something about the signs were there…that he hadn't done anything to destroy our art-"

The dog-printed mug had fallen onto the ground. Yuri looked up and saw Victor's shocked face turn into anger.

"That's it. I've had enough!" Nikiforov declared before abruptly made his way over to the other table across the room.

Yuri saw Victor had reached for his cell and dropped his own empty cup to stop him. "No, wait! That's what he wants! Stop! Ignore him!"

Victor moved his arms away from Yuri's attempt. "Why?" He went around the table. "He has been a thorn for years! He had no right to stress you like that!"

Yuri quickly clamped around Victor's wrists and held on the best he could while Nikiforov strove to shake him off. "Don't! Please! If you do, what if he wanted you to call in order to manipulate you?!"

Victor twisted and the two continued to struggle-dance around the small empty space that was available. "All the more reason to nip this in the bud, Yuri! I'm not going to believe he hadn't destroyed your art. Who else could? Have the motivation?!"

Yuri stood onto his tippy toes if he had to into order to stop Victor who rose their arms over their heads. "I don't know but don't! Gimme it!"

"Stop!" Victor refused and spun away from Yuri but the shorter man was swift on his feet to slide back around again to the front.

"No! I didn't tell you just to get yourself into more trouble! He's just a bully! If he has an alibi he'll report it. If not, he'll be put into jail, right?! Please don't call him- ack!"

The tug-o-war in slippery socks over slippery tarp proved to not be the best of combinations as the two ungracefully fell onto the floor in a heap.

-Bark! Bark!-

"I-It's okay, girl!" Victor soothed the poodle who pawed at the door and whimpered while he pushed himself off the floor. "I'm fine! I'm fine!"

With a final bark and whine, Nikiforov saw the space under the door go dark as the pup laid onto the floor.

"V-Vic-?"

Blue eyes turned away and looked down to meet the brown ones below. His hands were on either side of Yuri's flushed head; Victor didn't even bother to see were his phone and rolled off to.

Yuri didn't wriggle. Any form of apology felt stuck in his throat when those eyes were that close, placing every deep emotion front and center. His heart seemingly pounded in his ears. His train of thought scattered completely as the depths looked back into his before a gentle hand numbed his warming cheek.

"Yuri?"

Katsuki caved-in and slightly leaned into the cool touch. "Hmm?"

Victor took the same hand lightly brushed some black strands aside. "That bastard aside?" He whispered. "I really wish I didn't have just a week."

'Me too.' It was the first thought popped into Yuri's mind.

Victor lowered himself with his left as he slid his right forearm over Yuri's head.

And he was not allowed to have another thought otherwise.

Warm and soft, Yuri felt himself melt into the sensation on his lips yet he could not move. He felt Victor's entire self over him but couldn't move a finger to touch him. He remained surrendered there, completely still when Victor pulled away a couple moments later.

"If I'm going to pray for anything today," Victor admitted. "I…I want more time."

'W-Why?' Yuri felt his chest tighten with the desire to pull the Russian back to him growing almost painfully.

"Yuri?" Victor pecked the tip of his nose and studied those depths again. "I wish I could describe how beautiful your eye color is…" his calming voice trailed off.

'Likewise.' Yuri thought, holding back the threat of tears.

"You're truly something else."

Yuri shook his head. 'I'm really not.' He insisted but still couldn't speak.

"What on Earth is going on in that mind of yours that you think you're not?" Victor propped himself up again to brush some black hair aside once more with his right hand. "If you won't tell me and insist to be still, can I sketch you?" Victor lightly dragged his right pointer down Yuri's cheek. "And no, I'm not behind work."

Yuri felt his breath hitch before he felt himself nod when he felt Victor was meeting him where he was, to soothe is anxiety and be present.

Victor gently arranged Yuri's black fringe just in case. "Would you stay right there?"

'Can I sketch you…with those eyes…Victor just what do you see in me?'

Yuri, however, consented with a little nod and remained on the floor as Victor got a pad and set of pencils.

The music changed just as Victor came back, leaving Yuri to fight back a blush as he straddled Yuri's legs to get the same vantage point.

'This is weird! I look weird I know it! I should focus on resolving Chris, right? I! …I…'

Victor looked up from his paper and gave an innocent, heart-like smile before returning to swiftly compose the lines. "Maybe I'll color in just the eyes later, Yuri? The light is perfect."

The longer Yuri watched Victor work the more naked he felt. Studied yet saw nothing but affection.

"When I've reached a good direction on where to go I hope you can paint with me?"

-Bark! Bark!-

Victor rolled his eyes. "Yes, girl, we will walk you first!"

Yuri bit his lip to hold back a giggle when heard his idol whine like a child that Mila and Yakov had accused him of and froze when Victor quickly turned his head back when he felt an undeniable shift. "Aw, you moved!"

-Bark! Bark!-

"Ma~kkachi~n! Look at what you made Yuri do!"

Yuri sniggered. He couldn't help it.

Victor kept looking down at Yuri between his legs while his head was still turned to the door. "Looks like I'm gonna have to make out with him again, huh?" He leaned forward.

Yuri froze. "I'll be good," he meeped but willingly accepted Victor's kiss which sent his mind to drift high in the clouds all over again.

He felt Victor put his hands under his forearms, prompting him to wrap them around his neck. 'Yeah…Chris can wait…'

9:20 P.M.

Victor kept staring at his digital clock.

9:21 P.M.

He couldn't sleep.

9:22 PM.

With a frustrated groan he threw off the covers, sat up, and switched on a small lamp beside him on his nightstand.

Ring…Ring…

"Mmmphfu…Hello?"

Victor gripped the sheets with his freehand. "Hello. Chris."

"Yo~ what's this~?" Chris slurred.

"Did you do it?"

"Do wha~?"

"Art. You." He clipped in a hushed whisper.

There was scoff on the other end of the line. "No. We're over sweet cheeks and I'm not that petty."

'Then who?' Victor dreaded the thought.

"Vic -sniff- ?"

"Yes?" He swallowed thickly.

'Don't make me regret asking,' Nikiforov thought.

"Petty…nor big enough to pull it o- blarg!"

Victor pulled the phone away from his ear so he didn't have to hear the vomiting. He waited out of kindness to make sure Chris was at least breathing.

"Are you safe?"

"Sick at a dingy motel enough?"

"Are you getting help?"

"Enough. Niki… -click-"

9:26PM

Victor stared at the phone in his hands.

"I had," he mumbled to convince himself. "I'm sorry, Yuri..." he conceeded.

"Good."

Victor dropped the phone and turned around to see Yuri at the door of his room.

"You." He pointed at Yuri who stood in the shadows. "Official. Ninja. The fuck?"

Yuri snorted and walked towards the bed. "I had a hunch." He reached Victor's side and studied his teary face. "Are we going to be okay? I want to make sure."

Victor swept forward to clasp his arms around Yuri and pulled him close. "Yes…because you're here."

Thank you for reading!